Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 23 Today's expenses are all on me!

Li Shimin placed the dingyu into the crystal container prepared by Lin Luo.

It's described as a crystal container—but it's actually just a small, transparent glass fish tank that comes with the system. It's about the size of a palm and filled with clear water, where pygmy fish swim around and occasionally blow bubbles.

But for the people of the Tang Dynasty—

"This...this is made of glass??" Fang Xuanling was the first to notice the problem.

During the Zhenguan era, transparent glass was an extremely precious luxury item. A piece of transparent glass the size of a palm was worth as much as gold.

"Shopkeeper, this glass...you're using it to hold fish?" Fang Xuanling's voice trembled.

"Otherwise what?" Lin Luo asked, looking puzzled. "What else would you put in a fish tank if not fish?"

"…………"

Duckling's eyes lit up—something sparkly! It wanted it!

It stretched out its paw to hug the fish tank—

"Get lost." Li Shimin's single word scared Yajiji away.

This is my fish tank. It holds my fish. Nobody is allowed to touch it.

(´∀`)♡

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Next, Lin Luo began equipping everyone with the necessary items related to the spirits.

Gulu Ball (for backup), Cocoa Fruit, Magic Fruit, and a simplified version of the Elf Raising Manual.

Cheng Yaojin was particularly excited after receiving the manual—he was one of the first people to come into contact with the sprites, and he took the initiative to take on the role of teaching.

"Your Majesty, look! This is how you throw the ball—whoosh—smack—the elf goes in!"

Duck Gigi cooperated with the performance, crawling into the ball and then bouncing out.

Qilicao was hit by the ball three times but failed to score—she wouldn't let go with the ball in her mouth while holding onto it, and the ball bounced back and hit Cheng Yaojin in the face.

"Li! No way! Let's finish eating first!"

Yuchi Gong's teaching was even quieter—the first thing the swallowtail otter did after being released was to pick up pebbles and hand them to him.

"Hiss. Here you go."

"...I've already collected seventeen."

Fang Xuanling didn't need to be taught—the little spirit opened the manual by itself, flipping through it with its two little paws, and it read it even faster than Fang Xuanling.

"See? My dog ​​doesn't need to be taught." Fang Xuanling said proudly.

Li Shimin held the fish tank in his arms, and Miaomiao jumped off his lap and came closer to the fish tank.

"Meow?"

The pygmy fish poked its head out of the water, its mouth opening and closing.

"bean?"

The two elves stared at each other for three seconds through the glass.

The cat stretched out its paw and patted the fish tank.

The pygmy fish was so frightened that it sank to the bottom of the water.

"Meow!! Don't bully it!!" Li Shimin quickly carried the fish tank away.

ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ

The sky was getting dark.

Lin Luo glanced at the sky outside—

"Everyone, that's about it for today. Time to settle the bill."

Cheng Yaojin patted his pocket.

Yuchi Gong touched his pocket.

Fang Xuanling also touched his pocket.

The three people looked at each other in bewilderment.

It's not that I didn't bring any money.

I don't know who should pay.

"I think we should split the bill," Cheng Yaojin suggested.

"What is AA?" Yuchi Gong frowned.

"It means each pays their own way! The shopkeeper used that term, and I've remembered it!"

"Then you can pay yours, what does it have to do with me?"

"The problem is—" Cheng Yaojin scratched his head, "today I summoned a spirit, bought items, drank three bowls of tea, and ate five pieces of beef jerky..."

"It seems quite expensive when added together..."

"That's because you ate too much," Yuchi Gong said coldly.

"Your swallowtail otter picked up thirty pebbles from my yard. Do you want to calculate the cost of those pebbles too?"

"The pebbles are free!!"

"That beef jerky shouldn't be this expensive!!"

The two started arguing.

Fang Xuanling stood to the side and sighed—he had originally wanted to pay quietly and leave, but Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were arguing too loudly, so he couldn't leave.

Just then—

"Alright."

A voice came from behind.

Li Shimin carried the fish tank and walked out from the backyard.

He was in a very good mood today.

Because of diced fish.

Because of the saying "a fish leaping over the dragon gate".

Because he finally possessed a Tiny that could evolve into a Dragon-type Pokémon in the future.

How good was my mood?

So good that he felt the sunshine was especially beautiful, the tea was especially delicious, and even Cheng Yaojin's mouth wasn't so annoying anymore.

"Stop arguing."

He walked to the counter and took out a heavy brocade pouch from his pocket.

It was placed on the counter.

"Today's expenses will all be paid for by me."

"Serves four."

"Including my own."

The entire room fell silent.

Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong stopped arguing and looked at Li Shimin at the same time.

"Your Majesty...is it true?" Cheng Yaojin's eyes lit up.

"Words are as good as gold."

"Long live the Emperor!!!"

"Your Majesty is wise!!!"

May Your Majesty enjoy a long and prosperous reign!!!

The three of them shouted in unison.

The noise was so loud that Abu, who was in the backyard, was startled and climbed onto the roof beam.

"Whoa!! That scared me to death!!"

Lin Luo opened the brocade pouch and saw—

Thirty taels of gold.

He silently did the math in his head—it was roughly equivalent to three hundred strings of copper coins, or about three hundred thousand cash.

That's enough to buy a nice house in Chang'an.

He earned enough to buy a house in one day.

But Lin Luo could also see it—

Li Shimin paused for a moment when he took out his money.

Although she was smiling, that pause revealed—

Meat hurts.

It hurts so much.

After all, this money needs to be reported to the Imperial Household Department when we get back.

What if Wei Zheng found out that "His Majesty spent thirty taels of gold to buy a fish and a cat"—

That old man could talk his way out of court from morning till night.

σ(´∀｀) But that's for later.

Just as everyone was preparing to leave—

A commotion suddenly broke out in the backyard.

"Awoo??" Abu cried out.

"Ugh!" Dimo ​​cried out.

"Lanlan!!" Shui Lanlan cried out—and it was clearly filled with excitement.

Then came Little Owl's voice—

"Boss!! Come quick!!"

It wasn't a lazy voice.

That was a truly anxious voice.

Lin Luo put down the gold and ran to the backyard.

Li Shimin and the others quickly followed.

In the backyard—

Shui Lanlan was perched on the courtyard wall, her bow askew at a 120-degree angle.

Its little paws were frantically pounding on the wall—

"Blue, blue, blue, blue!!!!"

Lin Luo rolled over and climbed onto the courtyard wall—

Then he saw it.

In a small puddle in the alley outside the wall—

A light blue, round sprite is floating quietly on the water.

It has a small, hat-like round shell on its head.

Bubble shell.

The first wild water-type Pokémon attracted to the sanctuary.

Lin Luo looked at the bubble shell floating quietly in the puddle and took a deep breath.

coming.

It's really coming.

He turned to look at Li Shimin, who had also climbed onto the wall behind him—

Li Shimin looked at the water bubble shell, his expression changing from surprise to hope.

"Is this the water-type spirit you were talking about?"

"Yes. The first one."

"Will there be more?"

"There will be more and more."

Li Shimin looked at the small water bubble shell, then at the cracked earth in the distance.

"Soon."

"The people...it will be soon."

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

……